MarchGarden Song
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Recipes For The Month of March
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March 1
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind blow at your back,
May the sun shine warmly on your face.
May the rain fall softly on your field,
And until we meet again,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His Hand.
Amen."
-Irish Folksong
"Nothing is like a soul as a bee. It goes from flower to flower as a soul from star to star, and it gathers honey as a soul gathers light."
-Victor Hugo
Sunday Morning Pancakes
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3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup white flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
1 egg
1 1/4 cups water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Put whole wheat and white flours, baking powder, salt and dry milk into a large bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, beat egg; and water and oil and beat until mixed. Add egg mixture to the flour mixture. Stir only until mixed; the butter should be lumpy. Cook on a lightly greased hot griddle or pan. Turn over when bubbles appear and cook until golden brown.
Hot Honey Butter
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1/2 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup honey
in a small saucepan, melt butter; stir in cinnamon, nutmeg and honey. Ladle over pancakes.
March 2
"They eat the rich food in your house,
and you let them drink from your river of pleasure.
You are the giver of life.
Your light lets us enjoy life."
-Psalm 36:8-9 (NCV)
"Silently, one by one in the infinite meadows of heaven,"
blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of angels."
-Longfellow
Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread
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2 (3 ounces) packages cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 2/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pecans
or filling, beat together cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon flour in a medium bowl. Add 1 egg and mix well. Set aside. For batter, combine pumpkin, oil and remaining 2 eggs in a large bowl. Stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar, cloves and cinnamon and mix well. Stir in remaining 1 2/3 cups flour and baking soda. Blend in pecans. Pour half of batter into a greased 9" x 5" loaf pan. Carefully spread cream cheese mixture over batter. Add remaining batter, spreading gently to cover filing Bake in 325 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan before removing.
This delightful treasure of a recipe is also very versatile: serve with Sunday brunch, at a ladies tea or card night, or as an everyday dessert. For an extra touch. drizzle the bread with Cream Cheese Frosting. Always Special!
March 3
"Whatever will satisfy hunger is good food."
-Chinese Proverb
"Because normally with Western cuisine, you'll serve vegetables separate from the meat, so kids will eat the meat and never touch the vegetables."
-Martin Yan
Chinese Fried Rice
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1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
1/4 cup peanut oil
1/2 cabbage, shredded
2-3 carrots, shredded
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 eggs
2 cups cooked chicken, shrimp or tofu pieces
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce
Chopped peanuts
Cook rice according to package directions, adding Knorr Vegetable Soup mix to water. In a large skillet, heat peanut oil. Add cabbage, carrots, celery and onion. Saute until vegetables are just barely tender crisp. Add chicken, shrimp our tofu and saute for several more minutes. Meanwhile, beat the eggs and scramble in small skillet. To vegetables, add cooked rice, scrambled eggs and soy sauce. Heat thoroughly. Garnish with chopped peanuts and serve immediately.
*Here is an ancient remedy to ease a cold; Grate an onion and place i a glass or ceramic container that has a tight fitting lid. Add 2 tablespoons chopped thyme leaves. Add 2 cups boiling water, cover and let steep for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain into a cup and add honey and lemon tot taste. Slowly sip to relieve sour throat, cough and congestion. Repeat as needed. And keep eating your vegetables.
"Hospitality is commended to be exercised, even toward an enemy, when he cometh to thine house. The tree does not withdraw its shadow, even for the woodcutter."
-Chinese Proverb
March 4
"An optimist goes to the window every morning and says
"God Morning, God."
The pessimist goes to the window and says,
"Good God, Morning!"
-Author Unknown
"Sometimes I rose at dawn and stole into the garden while the heavy dew lay on the grass and flowers. Few know what joy it is to feel the roses pressing softly into the hand, or the beautiful motion of lilies as they sway in the morning breeze. Sometimes I caught an insect in the flower I was plucking, and I felt the faint noise of a pair of wings rubbed together in a sudden terror, as the little creatures became aware of a pressure from without."
-Helen Keller
Morning Veggie Pie
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1 cup fresh spinach
1 1/2 cups parsley
1 cup fresh lettuce leaves
Sprinkling of salt
1 tablespoon flour
1 pint heavy cream
2 eggs, beaten
1 9-inch pie crust
Parsley springs
Fresh melon wedges
Blanch the spinach, parsley, lettuce leaves in small amount of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze out all moisture. Chop and sprinkle with salt. Spread on the bottom of a deep-dish pie plate. Mix the salt and flour in a bowl. Add cream and stir. Add eggs and mix well. Pour over the greens in the pie plate. Place a rolled-out crust over these ingredients and flute edges. Bake in 325 degree oven for 35 minutes. Cool slightly before serving. Garnish with parsley and melon wedges.
*According to the ancient Greeks, parsley was thought to promote appetite, and even bring good humor. Now, I don't need any help with appetite promotion, but I can always use a bit of good humor. Try serving with Fluffy Dilly Popovers.
March 5
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel
"Oh, that you would bless me,
and enlarge my territory.
Let your hand be with me,
and keep me from harm
so that I will be free from pain!"
And God granted his request."
-1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes - and ships - and sealing wax -
Of cabbages - and kings -
Of why the sea is boiling hot -
And whether pigs have wings."
-Lewis Carroll
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
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3 slices of bacon, diced
6 cups shredded red cabbage
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 apples, peeled and sliced
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 cup chopped green onion
In large saute pan, fry bacon; remove when crispy. Add cabbage to drippings with salt, pepper, cloves and apples and fry for several minutes, until cabbage is somewhat browned and starting to wilt. Add boiling water. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minuets, until cabbage and apples are tender. In separate bowl, blend flour brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add vinegar and mix well. Add to cabbage and heat until thick. Add bacon and serve immediately. Garnish with green onion.
*Serve with Pork Chops with Apples and Rice or Peachy Beef Ribs.
March 6
"If l have faltered more or less
In my great task of happiness,
If I have moved among my race
And shown no glorious morning face,
If beams from happy eyes
Have moved me not, if morning skies,
Books and my food, and summer rain
Knocked on my sullen heart in vain:-
Lord, Thy most pointed pleasure take
And stab my spirit broad awake."
-Robert Louis Stevenson
"For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs."
-Deuteronomy 11:10 (KJV)
Herbed Croutons
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Bread slices, preferably white sourdough
Butter, softened
Dried herbs of choice: parsley, paprika, cilantro, onion and garlic powders, basil,
crushed red peppers, chives
Parmesan cheese, if desired
Spread bread evenly with softened butter. Sprinkle as thinly or thickly as desired per personal taste with herbs of choice, for example, garlic, and Parmesan or onion powder, basil and paprika. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes using a pizza cutter, or stack slices and use bread knife. Gently spread cubes in a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake in 300 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until cubes are dry, stirring 1 to 2 times. Use immediately or let cool and store in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days, or freeze for 1 to 2 weeks.
*Question of the Day: What am I?
"A silver-scaled Dragon with jaws flaming red
Sits at my elbow and toast my bread
I hand him fat slices, and then, one by one,
He hands them back when he sees they are done."
-William Jay Smith
**Answer: The Toaster
March 7
"Go and wake up our cook."
-Arabian Proverb
Coffee Spice Cake
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1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 eggs
1 1/3 flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup strong coffee
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Coffee
In mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, vanilla and lemon extract. Add eggs and beat well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Add the flour mixture, evaporated milk and coffee and mix until smooth. Pour into a greased 9-inch pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool. Meanwhile, make frosting by placing remaining butter, vanilla and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl and beating well. Gradually add enough coffee to make frosting of spreading consistency. Spread evenly over cooled cake. Serve immediately or cover and store at room temperature.
*If you are one of those people who just can't get enough coffee, then Coffee Spice Cake is for you. Coffee has long been considered a treasure. Ancient Arabs and Persians thought it a gift from the gods. One tale of the coffee plant discovery involves an Abyssinian goatherd who noticed his flock was friskier after eating the fruit of a glossy green free. He tried some and felt a rush of energy. A passing monk say him cavorting with his flock and brought the fruit back to his monastery to be used to stay awake for prayers. Another legend says that the Archangel Gabriel brought the fruit to earth. In colonial America, the first coffee house was opened in 1670 in Boston by Dorothy Jones. Imagine if Ms. Jones knew what she'd started!
March 8
"And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off, so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth."
-Genesis 8:11 (KJV)
"To create a garden is to search for a better world. In our effort to improve on nature, we are guided by a vision of paradise. Whether he result is a horticultural masterpiece or only a modest vegetable patch. it is based on the expectation of a glorious future. This hope for the future is at the heart of all gardening."
-Marina Schinz
Caesar Salad
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5-6 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed black pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 -2 cups Herb Croutons
1 small head Romaine Lettuce
In small saucepan, boil garlic in water until soft. Remove from water and mash with a fork. In small bowl, mix garlic, olive oil, vinegar, pepper and mustard until almost pasty. Wash and blot dry lettuce, then chip into large pieces. Add garlic dressing. Sprinkle and toss with Parmesan cheese. Ad croutons just before serving.
*Every cookbook should include Caesar Salad. It is a true classic that can be served with so many things. For a light lunch of soup and salad, serve it with a bowl of Easy Black Bean Soup. For Chicken Caesar Salad, top with broiled chunks of boneless. skinless chicken breasts that have been first marinated in the following: 1/2 cup canola oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, dash of soy sauce, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and parsley.
The appetite grows for what it feeds on."
-Ida B. Wells
March 9
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
-John 6:35 (KJV)
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
-Luke 22:19 (NIV)
Crispy Bread Sticks
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2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped chives
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme, rosemary or cumin seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup white flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
In large mixing bowl combine mile, chives, baking powder, thyme or other herb, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Mix well and stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until well blended. Turn onto floured bread board or counter and knead dough for 5 to 6 minutes. Add more flour if sticky; flour should be smooth and elastic when finished. Let the dough sit for 30 minutes in warm place Divide dough into 12 equal balls and roll each into long thin ropes and place on greased cookie sheet. Brush each with olive oil. Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Turn over and bake another 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool; store in air tight container at room temperature or freezer.
*Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. In Hebrew, the name Bethlehem means "a house of bread," In later life, Jesus himself provided bread for the hungry. He would bless bread to give us the Lord's Supper. And He would call himself "The Bread of Life come down from Heaven." So, the making of bread can remind us of Jesus' life given for us. The herbs used in this bread recipe, chives and thyme, were important in biblical gardens. Adding them to gardens and incorporating them into meals can add another devotional aspect to our modern day lives.
March 10
"What I love about cooking is that after a hard day, there is something comforting about the fact that if you melt butter and add flour and then hot stock, it will get thick!"
-Nora Ephron
"The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of the human race than the discovery of a star."
-Jean Anthelme Brillat-Sullivan
Cream of Spinach Soup
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4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
5 cups hot beef bouillon
6 cups packed fresh baby or torn spinach
2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
IIn a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour to make a smooth paste. Pour in the hot broth all at once and whisk until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth. Simmer 2 minutes. Stir in the spinach, cover and simmer until the spinach is tender and deep green, about 5 minutes. Stir in the milk and seasonings and heat. Serve immediately.
Easy Buttermilk Biscuits
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Self rising flour
About 1 cup buttermilk
1/2 stick (1/2 cup) shorting
Into a large mixing bowl, pour about 5 to 6 cups flour. Make a well into the center of the flour and pour about 1 cup buttermilk. Place shortening into buttermilk. Using a pinching type of motion with fingers, gently work flour into buttermilk and shortening until forms a ball. Scrape off fingers and continue to knead for 1 more minute. Using cleaned palms, roll about a tennis ball size bit of dough into rough ball and place on greased cooked sheet. Pat down with water covered fingers. Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Serve hot.
March 11
"Every night my prayers I say,
And get my dinner every day,
And every day that I've been good,
I get an orange after food,"
-Robert Louis Stevenson
"There was a boy that all agreed
Had shut within him the rare seed
Of learning. We could understand,
But none of us could lift a hand.
The man Flammonde appraised the youth,
And told a few of us the truth;
And thereby, for a little gold,
A flowered future was unrolled."
-Edwin Arlington Robinson
Orange Cream Fruit Salad
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1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 (16 ounce) can peach slices, drained
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
2 bananas, sliced
2 apples, chopped
1 cup seedless grapes
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
3/4 cup sour cream
In a large salad bowl, combine fruits and set aside. In a small mixing bowl, beat pudding mix, milk and orange juice concentrate for 2 minutes. Add sour cream and mix well. Spoon the pudding mixture over fruit and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Toss again before serving.
*As with many salads, fruits can be added or subtracted depending on personal preference. You may wish to add other fun, non-fruit items again, depending on the occasion. For children, consider marshmallows or gummy bears. For a more sophisticated crowd, poor into graham cracker crust or individual metallic muffin holders and freeze. Thaw slightly and garnish with grated orange peel.
March 12
"Now as I sit alone in my garden,
amongst mighty redwoods,
azure agapanthus, private hedges and shrubs,
I am present to a new found serenity.
The future is so unpredictable,
is like a rose bud
ready to open slowly and gently
to a new world.
A world ready to share
new found joy and compassion
while present to new found humility.
A world of independence...
and dependency.
My world within.
If only I may grow simpler, quieter, warmer."
-Dag Hammerskjold
"It takes every blade of grass to make the meadow green."
-Irish Proverb
Lemon-Lime Cordial
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10 lemon verbena or mint leaves, finely chopped
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups water
Lemon and lime wedges
Place verbena or mint leaves, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar and water in small saucepan. Heat the mixture, stirring often, for several minutes, or until sugar is completely dissolved. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate several hours. Strain and serve over ice. Garnish with lemon or lime wedges.
*Are you preparing for St. Patrick's Day? If you're Irish, you are. Try seeping the herbs overnight and then store in the refrigerator to serve throughout the week at every whim and fancy. Some people may even enjoy this warm, if it's still too frosty to enjoy a chilled drink.
March 13
"Master of the Universe
Grant me the ability to be alone;
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day
among the trees and grasses
among all the growing things
and there may I be alone,
and enter into prayer
to talk with the one
that I belong to."
-Rabbi Nachman
"Her branches will spread out; as beautiful as olive trees, fragrant as the forests of Lebanon."
-Hosea 14:6 (CLB)
Green Olive Relish
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1/2 cup coarsely chopped pitted green olives
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon pepper
In a small bowl, coarsely blend all ingredients together. Serve at room temperature and refrigerate any leftovers.
*I'm not sure the Irish used many olives, but it works for the color scheme. This Green Olive Relish can be a simple appetizer with thin slices of fresh sourdough bread. Or serve with Cucumber Salad Sandwich or Citrus Baked Halibut.
"We are given appetites, not to consume the world and forget it,
but to taste its goodness and hunger to make it great."
-Robert Farrar Capon
March 14
"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into abandon or not at all."
-Harriet Van Horne
"I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches."
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Garlic Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
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2 whole chickens, cut into pieces
6 medium potaotes, peeled and quartered
12 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey
In a large roasted pan, place chicken, potatoes and garlic, leaving peels on the garlic. Pour butter over all and sprinkle with salt. Bake in 400 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes, basting frequently with the pan juices. Heat honey; baste over chicken. Spoon the pan juices over potatoes and garlic. Reduce oven to 350 degrees and bake 20 to 25 minutes longer, or until chicken is tender. Place chicken, potatoes and garlic on a platter and spoon drippings over chicken. Server immediately. To eat the garlic, cut the peel and scoop out the pulp.
Chippewa Bread
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1 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
Sprinkle of salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups flour
In a medium bowl, mix milk, oil, salt, baking powder and flour only until all moist. Dump out onto a greased cookie sheet and pat out evenly to form a 1/2" to 1" thick round patty; it will not cover entire surface of the pan. Gently prick dough with a fork several times. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cut into pizza wedges and serve immediately. Serve with above Garlic Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, or is especially good with butter and jelly.
March 15
"It is easy to halve the potato where there's love"
-Irish Proverb
"There is no unbelief;
Whoever plants a seed beneath the sod
And waits to see it push a away the clod,
He trusts in God."
-Elizabeth Your Case
Potatoes Accordion
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4 medium, even potatoes, peeled
5 - 6 tablespoons butter
2 - 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs of choice, such as chives, parsley, and basil
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
2 cloves finely minced garlic
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon seasoned salt, if desired
Cut peeled potatoes into thin slices, but not all the way through. Put potatoes into an 8" x 8" baking pan. In small frying pan, heat butter over medium heat. Add herbs, onion and garlic and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Using pastry brush, spread potato slices with butter mixture, fanning with a fork. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees for about 50 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Bake potatoes another 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned and potatoes are done.
*Did you know that the potato did not originate in Ireland? Its native home was in the Andes Mountains of South America. It was introduced into Ireland around the mid 1500's. This dressed up version of the old bake potato is perfect served with a Marinated Salmon Steak and Sesame Asparagus.
"He said, "This is how you should pray:
Father, may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us our food day by day.
And forgive us our sins-
just as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation."
-Luke 11:2-4(NLT)
March 16
"One leaf is for hope, and one is for faith,
And one is for love, You know,
And God put another in for luck."
-Ella Higginson
"The year's at the spring and day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven; The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven - All's right with the world"
-Robert Browning
Irish Soda Bread
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4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons shortening
1 1/4 cups buttermilk, plus several more tablespoons if needed
Grease and flour a baking sheet. Sift together the dry ingredients twice. Cut in the shortening. Add the buttermilk and mix to a soft but manageable dough. Shape into a 7-inch round and mark into triangles. Place on the baking sheet and bake in 425 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Eat while warm.
*Even if you are not Irish, expand your ethnic celebrations to include St. Patrick's Day. Serve this Irish Soda Bread with tomorrow's Irish Stew for a complete traditional Irish meal.
"May there always be work for your hand to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine upon you window pane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near to your and
May God fill your hand with gladness that cheer you."
-Irish Prayer
March 17
"I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Mary's of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord;
that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me."
-Prayer of Saint Bridgid of Ireland
Irish Stew
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1 pound boneless lamb, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon cooking oil
4 cups water
2 medium onions, cut into wedges
1 tablespoon instant beef bouillon granules
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 medium carrots, sliced
4 medium potatoes, chopped
1/2 cup cold water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Fresh chopped parsley
In a Dutch oven heat oil and brown the lamb. Stir in water, onions, bouillon granules, thyme, basil, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Skim off fat. Add carrots and potatoes, Return to a boil, and then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf. Stir together water and cornstarch. Add to hot stew. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Sprinkle with parsley to garnish and serve immediately.
*May the luck of the Irish be with you on St. Patrick's Day as you celebrate by serving this stew with the Irish Soda Bread from yesterday and Nutty Cabbage Salad.
March 18
"O if you faithfully obey the command I am giving you today - to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul - then I will send rain on you land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil."
-Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (NIV)
"People are growing tomatoes, at least in part, because it provides them with something to talk about. No other vegetable doubles as a social passport, no other vegetable makes it so easy for people of different ages, incomes, and educations to talk to one another. For many, just the subject of tomatoes is enough to leave a good taste in their mouths."
Roger B. Swain
Olive Stuffed Tomatoes
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4 large ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped black olives
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup fresh grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon pepper
5 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh grated parmesan cheese
Halve tomatoes and spoon pulp into a bowl. Blot tomato halves with paper towel to dry. Along with removed tomato pulp. combine black olives. bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese, basil, garlic, onion, pepper and 4 tablespoons olive oil. Pack mixture into tomato halves and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with remaining olive oil. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, until browned and bubbly. Serve immediately
*This mouth-watering dish primes a person for the upcoming growing season. Serve with Dirty Rice, Freckled Corn Muffin and to keep the pleasant thoughts rolling, finish with Pumpkin Pudding Pie.
March 19
"To cook, and to do it well, every talent must be used;
the strength of a prize-fighter, the imagination of a poet,
the brain of an empire builder, the patience of Job,
the eye and the touch of an artist, and,
to turn your mistakes into edible assets,
the cleverness of a politician,"
-Anne Ellis
"A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself."
May Sarton
Carrot Cake
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2 1/4 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
6 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups mashed cooked carrots
6 cups flour
2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
Orange Juice
Combine shortening, salt, sugar, eggs, baking powder, carrots and flour in a mixing bowl. Spread into well greased jelly roll pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until a knife inserted into a the center comes out clean. Let cool. In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, cream cheese and butter; add orange juice 1 teaspoon at a time, until if forms a smooth, easy-to-spread texture. Frost carrot cake and cool before serving.
*The above recipe is for a very smooth cake; if you prefer your cake more coarse, use 3 coups grated raw carrots and add 1 cup chopped pecans to the better For an even nuttier flavor and texture, add 1 cup chopped pecans to the frosting as well. Or, score frosted cake into desired pieces and garnish the center of each piece with pecan halves.
March 20
"It's always Spring in the Soul united to God,"
-Saint Jean Marie Vainney
"Throughout history, food has been a subject for artist to draw and paint. A platter of cold, cooked asparagus whets one's appetite for spring. The sizzle of butter in a frying pan is music, too. The smell of freshly brewed coffee warms hearts. The aroma of the garlic in escargots makes mouths water. One perfect pear on a dessert plate feasts the eye. The tasted of mid summer corn on the cob, dripping with sweet butter and sprinkled with ground pepper reminds me of my life, and the delight of the moment is intensified through memory"
Alexandra Stoddard
Asparagus Vinaigrette
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6 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 - 3 pounds fresh asparagus spears
In a jar with a lid, combine oil, vinegar, garlic, parsley, chives, mustard, tarragon and salt. Chill vinaigrette at least 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Cook the asparagus in boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and chill. At least a half hour before serving, arrange asparagus on a platter and pour vinaigrette dressing over asparagus. Continue to chill until served.
This vinaigrette dressing made with heart healthy olive oil and tasty wine vinegar can be combined any variety of vegetables; try julienne carrots, zucchini, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts. On this first day of spring, serve with Honey-Dew Chicken or Avacado Tuna Salad.
"He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be their peace."
-Micah 5:4-5(NIV)
March 21
"Sow a Thought, and you reap an Act,
Sow an Act and you reap a Habit,
Sow a Habit and you reap a Character,
Sow a Character and you reap a Destiny."
-Charles Reade
"Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers."
William Shakespeare
Thai Noodles with Broccoli
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8 ounces uncooked spaghetti noodles, broken
1 1/2 pounds broccoli flowerets (5 cups)
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 pound fresh or frozen shrimp or chicken
1 tablespoon grated ginger root (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 green onions, chopped
1/3 cup chopped cashews or peanuts
In a stock pot, bring water to boil. Add pasta; cook 4 minutes. Add broccoli; cook 2 minutes. If using shrimp, add and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until pink. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine peanut butter and soy sauce. Stir in vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, ginger root and garlic. Drain spaghetti mixture; return to pan. Add peanut butter mixture, green onions and nuts. Toss gently to coat. If choosing chicken, add already roasted and chopped. Serve immediately
*Not very often do I measure ingredients carefully; however, this is one recipe where this is important in order together a smooth, light blend. If too much peanut butter or too lightly soy sauce is used the balance is thrown off. This may be a Thai recipe, and garlic bread may sound too Italian, but Garlic Bubble Bread complement this meal perfectly. Enjoy!
"People who eat from their gardens have good taste."
-Texas Bix Bender
March 22
"Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruit - and man is his own gardener."
-James Allen
"My grandmother, when she served dinner, was a virtuoso hanging on the edge of her own ecstatic performance... She was a little power crazed: she had us, and , by God, we were going to eat... The futility of saying no was a supreme, and no one ever tried it. How could a son-in-law, already weakened near the point of imbecility by the once, twice, thrice charge to the barricades of pork and mashed potato, be expected to gather his feeble with long enough to ignore the final call of his old commander when she sounded the alarm: "Pie, Fred?""
-Patricia Hampl
Pear Crunch Pie
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1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons lemon juice
6 medium pears, peeled and sliced
1 (9 inch) pie crust, unbaked
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans
In a bowl, combine sugar, flout, lemon juice and pears. Arrange in unbaked pie shell. Set aside. Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cut in butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Stir in pecans and sprinkle evenly over pears. Bake in 400 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly around edges. Cool and serve with generous amounts of whipped cream or ice cream.
*Good thoughts bear good fruit... or does good fruit bear good thoughts? That seems to be the way it is with this Pear Crunch Pie. So, whether grandma is a good pusher or not, one can never resist he thought of this 'good fruit pie'.
March 23
"We may live without poetry, music and art,
We may live without conscience and live without heart,
We may live without friends, we may live without books,
But civilized man cannot live without cooks
He may live without books - what is knowledge but grieving?
He may live without hope - what is hope but deceiving?
He may live without love - what is passion but pining?
But where is the man that can live without dining?"
-Earl of Lytton
Split Pea Soup with Bacon and Rosemary
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6 bacon slices, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium leek, sliced
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 (14 1/2 ounce) cans vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups green split peas, rinsed
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Sour cream
Hot pepper sauce or salsa
Tortilla chips
Saute the bacon until crispy in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Take out about 1/4 of bacon to reserve for garnish. To remaining bacon, add onion, leek, carrot, garlic and saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add broth split peas, bay leaves and rosemary bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until peas are tender, about 1 hour. Stir occasionally; season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with reserved bacon, sour cream, hot sauce or salsa, and for a change of pace, tortilla chips.
*Not only do herbs grown as a companion plants repel unwanted insects in the garden, but they may also be used in the kitchen. To keep bugs away from dry staples, scatter bay leaves on shelves. Be sure to replace every 5 to 6 months.
March 24
"You cannot imagine what a nice walk we had round the orchard...
I hear today that an apricot has been detected on one of the trees."
-Jane Austen
There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner;
that, in the dinner, the sweets come last."
-Robert Louis Stevenson
Brandied Hot Fruit
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1 large can peach halves, drained, juice reserved
1 can Bing cherries, seeded, drained, juice reserved
1 large can pear halves, drained
1 large can apricots, drained
1 jigger brandy
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Arrange drained fruit in a pattern in a round casserole. Combine juices from peaches and cherries in a medium saucepan. Add brandy, cinnamon, nutmeg and cornstarch. Heat over low heat until thickened. Pour over fruit in casserole. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot an bubbly. Let cool slightly. Serve plain or over ice cream.
*One of the nice things about Brandied Hot Fruit is that it can be served any time during the meal, not something you have to wait for the end of the meal to enjoy. It can be a nice warm start to a meal instead of soup. Or serve along side Glazed Stuffed Ham. Brandied Hot Fruit may seem a little strong for some to start the morning but once in a while, for a change, it might be good with oatmeal at breakfast. Shouldn't more things in life be like this?
"Love, it is a flower and you its only seed."
~Amanda McBrown
March 25
"God... was in the food they ate, in the water they drank, in the air they breathed, in the earth they trod on the died on, in the words they spoke, in the sleep they slept and the dreams they dreamt, in the everywhere and the everything."
-Albert Wendt
"In terms of ease and evenness of application, nothing will ever match rain. Rain falls so evenly, wetting the lawn, the vegetable garden, the flower border, the fruit trees, and the forest. Downpours are such democratic events. If only we knew how to call them up. Scheduling a picnic, or starting to work on the roof sometimes does the job."
-Roger B. Swain
Pineapple Bars
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1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 3/4 cups flour
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple
1 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Mix butter, sugar, shortening, pecans and flour to the crumbly consistency of a pie crust. Pat into the bottom of a greased 9"x 13" pan. Set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook pineapple, sugar, egg yolks and cornstarch. Stir constantly until thick and starting to bubble. Immediately pour over crust. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until edges are browned and center is firm. Cool slightly before cutting. Store in refrigerator or freeze between layers of wax paper.
*These tasty little bars are a perfect change from the usual chocolate desserts or for those with chocolate allergies. However, if you are a certified "chocoholic", substitute 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips in place of the pecans, using same preparation directions. Serve at a bridal shower or afternoon picnic (just be prepared for rain!) with Pineapple Oat Bran Muffins and Lemon Lime Cordial or for a romantic late night dessert with Festive Champagne Spritzer.
March 26
"Plants don't point a finger. If they live, they don't carry grudges. If they die, unless you've killed an entire spices or a rain forest, you feel only momentary guilt, which is quickly replaced by a philosophical, smug feeling: Failure is enriching your compost pile."
-Anne Raver
"To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given a chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy."
-Bette Davis
Spinach Meatballs
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1 package frozen chopped spinach
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound bean ground beef
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup water
Cook spinach in a small amount of water as possible; drain and squeeze out excess water. Heat oil in skillet and saute onion and garlic until transparent, do not brown. Remove onion and garlic with a slotted spoon; let drain on paper towel. Leave remaining oil in skillet and set aside. In a large bowl, mix cooked spinach, cooked onion and garlic, ground beef, Parmesan cheese and pepper. Form into small balls and roll in flour mixed with salt. Brown the meatballs in a skillet, then place in a greased casserole baking pan. Mix mushroom soup with water and pour over meatballs. Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour, or until cooked through. Serve immediately.
*Recommend serving with Wild Rice, Cauliflower and Carrots, or Good Old Fashioned Mashed Potatoes and Country Dill Bread. I also suggest making smaller mini-meatballs and serving as appetizers. For a light desert serve a Carrot Cookie.
March 27
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong.
Jesus love me! He who died, heaven's gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, let his little child come in.
Yes, Jesus loves me; yes, Jesus loves me;
Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so."
-Anna Warner
Hot Cross Buns
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2 packages active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm milk
1/3 cup warm water
4 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup superfine sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled, but not firm
1 egg, beaten
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup grated orange peel
1 egg white, slightly beaten
Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and water. In a large mixing bowl, put 1 cup of flour and 1 tablespoon sugar and add the yeast mixture; mix well and set aside in a warm place. Let rise for about 15 minutes, until yeast is frothy. Meanwhile, sift together the remaining flour, salt, nutmeg and sugar. Stir the butter and egg into the frothy yeast mixture, add the flour and the fruit and mix together. The dough should be fairly soft. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. about 5 to 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl and cover with a warm damp cotton cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Punch down the dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 pieces and shape into buns. Arrange them well apart on a floured baking sheet. Using scissors, cut a cross on the top of each bun. cover and let rise again until doubled. Brush the tops with the egg white. Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool the bus on a rack. Mix milk and sugar to spreading consistency and frost the cross on each bun.
*Serve these Hot Cross Buns during the Lenten season, as is traditional in the Christian religions. They mark the start of using yeast to leaven bread, as too symbolize Christ's rising.
March 28
"Nobody sees a flower, really.
It is so small.
We haven't the time and
to see takes time.
Like to have friends takes time."
-Georgia O'Keefe
"Whoever has bitten a sour apple will enjoy a sweet one all the more."
-German Proverb
Wonder Sandwich
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12 slices sourdough bread, toasted and buttered
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 apple, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
3/4 cup mayonnaise
12 slices bacon, cooked
6 hard boiled eggs, sliced
6 slices tomato
Combine cheese, apple, walnuts and mayonnaise. Spread on 6 slices of toast. Place 2 slices bacon on each piece of bread, then cover with sliced eggs. Top with remaining toast. Garnish top with a slice of tomato; hold all together by spearing with a toothpick. Serve immediately.
*Just the title of this recipe makes a person curious, don't you think? Then to look down the ingredient list piques the curiosity. Try it, and maybe you'll wonder why you didn't think of it! Or, you will find it not-so-great, and find your old favorites all the more sweet."It is difficult to think of anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."
~Lewis Gizzard
March 29
"I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower-
the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence."
-Helen Keller
"A child her wayward pencil drew
On margins of her book;
Garlands of flower, dancing elves,
Bud, butterfly, and brook,
Lessons undone, and plum forgot,
The teacher who she learned to love
Before she knew t'was Art."
-Louis May Alcott
Broiled Mahi-Mahi with Fresh Dill Sauce
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1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon salad dressing or mayonnaise
2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Dash salt, if desired
1 pound Mahi-Mahi steaks
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper
Combine sour cream, yogurt, salad dressing or mayonnaise, mustard and hot sauce. Stir in dill; add pepper and salt. Refrigerate 1 to 24 hours to allow flavors to blend. Pat mahi-mahi steaks dry with paper towels. Combine oil and lemon juice; brush on both sides of fish. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Place in oiled baking dish. Broil for 12 to 15 minutes, until browned and easy to flake. Serve immediately, spooning the dill sauce over broiled steaks.
*Serve with Summer Grilled Vegetables, Twice Baked Potatoes and Carrots and White Buns.
March 30
"God's crumbs are better than the world's loaves."
-Unknown
"And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it , they said to one another. It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat."
-Exodus 16:14-15 (KJV)
"And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey."
-Exodus 16:31 (KJV)
Manna From Heaven
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1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flour
Coriander seed
In a mixing bowl, cream butter, add sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat thoroughly. Add honey, salt and vanilla and beat again. In separate bowl, combine baking powder and flour and add to butter mixture. Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet. Garnish each cookie with 3 coriander seeds. Bake in 400 degree oven for 7 to 8 minutes, or until firm when touched and just starting to brown. Cool and store in airtight container.
*What is the difference between 'coriander' and 'cilantro'? Coriandrum sativum is a native to the Middle East, being cultivated for over 3,000 years. When the Spaniards took it to the New World, a new species developed, Cilantro. Typically, in familiar recipes, the green leaf portion of the plant is open referred to as cilantro and the seed is refereed to as coriander.
March 31
"Work - for some good, be it ever so slowly
Cherish some flower, be it ever so lowly;
Labor - all labor is noble and holy.
Let thy great deeds be thy prayer to thy God!"
-Frances Sargent Osgood
"There was an old woman
Sold pudding and pies;
And dust blew in her eyes.
She has hot pies
And cold pies to sell;
Wherever she goes
Ye may follow her by the smell"
-Traditional Nursery Rhyme
Potato Spinach Pie
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5 medium potatoes, peeled and boiled
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chipped spinach, thawed
2 teaspoons butter
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
3 cups Colby or cheddar cheese, grated
In separate pots, cook potatoes and spinach in boiling water. Mash drained potatoes with butter, milk, salt, pepper and onion powder. Drain cooked spinach well squeezing out excess water. Fold spinach into mashed potatoes. Spread into greased, round casserole baking dish. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Cheese should be bubbly and slightly browned. Serve immediately.
*Serve with a steaming bowl of Creamy Tomato Soup and Bacon Muffins. Also good with dinner along side Chokes and Peppers or Creamed Cabbage and Onions.
Recipes For The Month Of
January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October , November , December
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